#fenixtj

There, now they are not quite strangers!

"I'm Scrub" One boy says

"Ditto..." Says a pooka

"That's what we call her.. Ditto. Not that she's Scrub too." The selkie explains "I'm Foam. I'm originally from Jersey"

"Scrub, Ditto, and Foam." He repeats the names to remember them. "You take care of those little sprites, will you? Silly little things were half drowned."

At that the childlings begin cooing over the nevers

He considers telling Foam about the sea-never, but... the sea is still dangerous, just now, so he shelves it for later.

Though, he will report the news to the Baron, or the Baron's staff. Incredible!

Is it even a never anymore?

He chuckles, and sings a bit of a jaunty sailing tune to himself as he walks, brought to mind by the question.

"And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more!
Will I play the wild rover
No, never, no more!"

"HALT!" Another childling approaches. A sidhe girl with a nodric garb

He stops, and gives the girl an easy smile. “If you're looking for your friends, they're building sandcastles over that way.”

"I'm Baroness Vaeltilde. " A look at him, "You're supposed to bow juust a bit or nod or something?"

A blink, and he does bow, properly. "Apologies, Baroness. I'm new to these lands and did not recognize you, Lady Vaeltilde. I've only met the Baron Tidemarch."

"It's okay. " She sighs "I am reminded we Aesin can be a bit demanding, but, that was a very nice bow" She smiles "Thank you. I heard you're captaining one of the ships?"

"Yes! The yarest little vessel this side of Concordia. She's an older model, but slips sweetly through the seas." He speaks of the ship as some might of a friend or lover.

"The Baron asked me to name her, I call her the Countess, after Lady Flame-Free."

"Oh!" Vaeltilde beams "Well chosen. The Countess is very kind"

"She saved me when the trods collapsed." He smiles!

"And she said I can take her out on the Countess once I get my sea legs back under me." Cheerful.

"You're a Selkie, you're like the most sea wise kith there is"

"Have you ever seen a Selkie fly?"

"Uhm.. no." A pause "With wayfare?"

"...I don't recommend it." He grins and tells her the short tale of his rescue by Lady Jessica.

"That's amazing!" She gasps "It must be fate! Well, that and she's very tall. I have to tell Ellie, she's the heir to the countess and a friend"

"Ellie.. that's the heir, right? I didn't get a chance to meet her, she was on a trip with a Beaumayn knight. I forget the Dame's name, I'm afraid. I hope to meet her someday. I do plan on visiting Fenix when I can."

"Dame Ash" A nod "And you should. You are welcome at Sunkissed waves but it is rather crowded at our hold"

"I've actually been quite happy anchored at sea. You've never slept until the waves have rocked you to sleep..."

"Do you sail, Lady?"

"I do , Aesin take pride in their sailing heritage"

A big grin. "Have you your own ship? Or your own fleet?" Realizing he speaks to a Baroness.

"Oh, I have my own Ship, but not my own fleet. The Baron says that's a bit much" A sigh "I do wish I could prove myself. "

"Tell me of your ship, then?" A smile. "You're but a lass, still, you have many years in which to prove your worth."

"Havsglädje!" A smile "It loosely translates to Joy of the Sea"

"áthas na farraige!" He answers, "Joy of the sea. A lovely name, and a lovely sentiment. Say, have you ever heard of a sea-never?"

"I encountered the strangest little chimera on my sail in earlier today..."

"A Sea never? " A gasp "they have those?"

"I don't know if there was any before, but there are now. At least one!"

"Tell me, please?"

He describes finding the little band of neverlanders trapped under the waves, and... "Well, I was joking, when I asked if they wanted to go to land, or stay and become sea-nevers - but I'll be darned if one of them didn't up and dive right in, growing fins and gills like that." He snaps his fingers.

"That's amazing. I've never heard anything like that" SHe ponders "You should tell Constance, Scribe of Fenix, of this so she may record it. And. oh, Salma, offiial story teller of childlings "

"If you'd like..." his eyes twinkle. "Is that an official order to report to Fenix?"

She steps back "You are very nice, Calder. Yes, if you're duties at sea are done today, you have my decree to take this valuable knowledge to Fenix so it maybe preserved"

He smiles back. Then adds, "As long as you promise me you won't go hunting for a glimpse of sea-nevers on your own. I know you are a Baroness, but the seas are still in a bit of a turmoil, and any sort of monster could be lurking, or drop through from the dreaming. If you can't keep that promise, I'll skip Fenix and show you myself, though I'm not certain I can find her again."

A pout "You know me well for one who has met me" A pause "I will not hunt the wily sea never for a month?"

"Not alone, at least." He smiles, giving her a bit of an out.

"Oh nay, never alone" A BEAMING smile

"Then we have a deal, Lady." He grins, and bows, and is on his way, whistling to himself the same tune from earlier.

The baroness nods and decides she likes Calder. And off the two going in different directions